Chateau Brane Cantenac

Home of the

Lurton Family

Mills Fine Wine and Spirits is pleased to announce that we have entered into a "Direct Shipment" agreement with the most important wine family of Bordeaux - The Lurton family! 

To name a few, members of this family own:  Chateau Cheval Blanc, Chateau D Y'quem, Chateau Camarsac, Chateau Bouscaut, Chateau Desmirail, Chateau Brane Cantenac, Chateau Durfort Vivens, Chateau Doisy Dubroca, Chateau Climens and so many more we could go on for pages!

Having dealt with them in a previous life, our wine manager was approached by a Lurton representative and asked if he (Mills) would like to be the first regional retailer allowed to purchase small properties directly!  No middle men at all, except for an expediter!  We jumped at the chance, and, at a tasting arranged for us in February, the Mills Wine Staff selected twelve different Bordeaux Chateaux that we felt were perfect for you!

It took a while, but they are now all on our floor ready for you to taste and purchase!  These prices are just spectacular.  Read on to find out just a little more about each of them.

Chateau Jean Gassie

Bordeaux Rouge 2006

Thomas and Jeremie Lurton

Mills Shelf Price  $11.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $10.79     6 Bottles Or More  $9.59

Thomas and Jeremie Lurton are two of Dominique Lurton's sons.  Their older brother, Pierre, shocked the wine world when he was able to acquire both Chateau Cheval Blanc and Chateau d"Yquem.  Brothers Thomas and Jeremie were asked by Dominique to take over the rest of this part of the Lurton family's holdings:  Chateaux Martouret, Colin de Pey, Jean Gassie, and Mille.  The two brothers joined their talent to do marvelous things with these great vineyards. 

Jeremie is an agricultural engineer, his abilities in the vineyards have transformed Jean Gassie into the top Quality Price Ratio wine in the Lurton portfolio.  With a consulting oenologist from Cheval Blanc this wine is a real treat.  Thomas is their "art director"  As "art" is his passion he sees the beauty of the vineyards and wines and brings his own special elegance to their wines. 

Martouret dates back to the 18th Century.  Dominique bought it in 1971, and the second parcel Jean Gassie in 1996.  Thomas and Jeremie argue about which one is the big brother and which one the little brother! 

Chateau Bellevue Chollet

Bordeaux Rouge 2006

Gold Medal

2007 Bordeaux Expo

Mills Shelf Price $13.49

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $12.14     6 Bottles or More  $10.79

This is what the prestigious London house of Laithwaites writes about Bellevue Cholet:  It is extremely rare for a humble Petit Chateaux to strike GOLD at the top competition in Bordeaux - but that's exactly what the Chaveland family's Bellevue Chollet 2006 has done.

Their Merlot and Cabernet vineyards sit at the highest point in Bordeaux's Entre-deux-Mers region. The altitude gives the grapes maximum exposure to the Sun, allowing them to ripen to perfection.

Ripe and elegant with layers of pure black fruit and spice.  A charming drop to open with good food and great company.

Laithwaites goes on to say how very scarce this wine is and that only a few lucky merchants get it in London.  Thanks to Peter's relationship with Lurton we can say the same thing about the USA!

Chateau du Barry

Bordeaux Rouge 2006

Gold Medal

2007 Bordeaux Expo

Mills Shelf Price  $13.49

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $12.14     6 Bottles or More  $10.79

This is a historic tale of woe!  Built in 1700, on order of King Louis XIV, for Arnold de Ville, designer of the famous "electric" water generator on the Seine, La Machine de Marly.   The Chateau was inhabited by various grandchildren of Louis XIV during the first years of the 18th Century, and was always planted in well thought of vines.  Given to the infamous Madame du Barry by Louis XV upon her "elevation" to the title of "principle mistress" of the King.   Madame du Barry was arrested here on orders of "The Revolution" in 1793.

The Chateaux was at the heart of an International scandal of pillaging and neglect and was all but abandoned throught the 1950's and 1960's.  It has been carefully restored to its original brilliance, and with the Lurton family management has once again started producing magnificent wine.

Please note here, two of the most important "wine judgings" in France are the Concours at Paris and Bordeaux, the other is Macon.  Mills has managed to acquire the Gold Medal Winners for Bordeaux at Both Contests for the 2006 Vintage.   We aren't sure, but we believe we might be the only American wine retailer to make such an acquisition!

Chateau La Chapelle Maillard

Bordeaux Rouge 2008

Certified Organic by Eco Cert

Gold Medal Winner

2009

Concours de Aquitane

De L'Agriculture Biologique

Mills Shelf Price  $15.99

Customer Appreciation Card Price

1-5 Bottles  $14.39   6 Bottles or More  $12.79

This is the first of the wonderful 2008 to arrive at Mills.  Robert Parker says of the 2008's " The vintage turned out to be excellent, with a number of superb wines that are clos to, if not equal to the prodigious 2005 or 2000 vintages.

La Chapelle Maillard is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc it is well balanced with nice red fruit character.  Notes of cassis and chocolate and a structured, toasty oak inflected finish.

Once again, Mills has come up with a first.  This Gold Medal Winner won at the "Organic Fair" for all of Europe.  This is one of Europe's truly remarkable organic wines, and only Mills has found a way to bring it to you!

Chateau Rocher Bellevue

Cotes de Castillon  2005

Bronze Medal Winner

2007  Bordeaux Expo

Mills Shelf Price  $13.99

1-5 Bottles  $12.59     6 Bottles or More $11.19

This might be the most "under the radar" Bordeaux on the market today.  It has become a cult classic amongst the Bordelais in the know and now we're telling you!  This is a tale of a winemaker.  Rocher Bellevue was just one of the unknown 17,000 Bordeaux Chateau when the owners asked Jaques Begaire winemaker at Vieux Chateau Certan to make the wine for them.  It didn't take long for this wine to reach secret cult status amongst French wine buyers.   While Begaire is now their "consulting oenologist", his fingers are certainly in the cepage.  He is now Michelle Rolland's partner in several worldwide vineyards of renown.

Castillon is considered "Baby Saint Emilion" .  The Castillon area surrounds St. Emilion with the same heavy emphasis on Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  We simply can't believe we could find a 2005 Vintage (one of the greats) with this kind of pedigree, at this kind of price!

Chateau Roudier

Montagne Saint Emilion 2005

Who's Your Daddy

Mills Shelf Price  $17.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $16.19     6 Bottles or More  $14.39

Who is Roudier's Daddy ? ? ?  One of the most famous Chateaux in Saint Emilion is the Grand Cru Classe Chateau Cap de Mourlin.   There is actually a Capdemourlin family who has owned this estate for over 400 years! 

Roudier is their "baby".  The family acquired this Chateau in Montagne Saint Emilion in recent years and, as expected, the quality has gone thru the roof!   This is another instance where we can't believe we found a 2005 Montagne St Emilion that we can actually sell for under $15. 

Since the Capdemourlin family has owned Roudier it has won placements at the Elysee Palace,  Matignon (headquarters of the Prime Minister),  and other truly prestigious French historical sites!   MILLS is truly pleased to bring you the "child" of a French Wine Aristocrat.

Chateau Saint Arnaud

Saint Emilion 2005

Mills Shelf Price  $19.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $17.99     6 Bottles or More  $15.99

We're just going to quote Anna Bennett at this point.  She is a famous internet wine guru, a famous novelist, and a famous crusader for Kidney disease charities.

"This is a rich, rich, wine and I like it.  I had dinner out tonight but I wanted a glass of wine when I got home.  Randomly, I opened this bottle.  On my first pour, what a great wine!  I don't know the blend, but it is a rich red.   Deep  lush fruit.  Oakiness for a split second and then a smooth finish!  There is nothing light about it, it is substantial.  If it were a fabric, it would be a thick silk/cotton blend.  Like nice sheets when you have just made your bed, comforting.  To me this could be a $40 Bottle!"

Chateau Le Jurat

Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2005

Mills Shelf Price $24.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $22.49     6 Bottles or More  $19.99

This is another story of Bordeaux lineage, but just a little bit different.  A Bordeaux Chateaux CAN subdivide and change name for the new parcel, but it can NEVER be changed back. 

This is exactly what happened years ago at the famous St Emilion Chateau, Chateau Haut-Corbin!  The Chateau originally belonged to Edward Prince of Wales, but when England squandered Aquitaine the land was divided by the French.   Haut-Corbin muddled thru uneventfully and quite frankly underproduced from a quality standpoint until it was purchased in 1960.   As part of an inheritance plan, a part of Haut Corbin became LE JURAT! 

Since then, with exceptional wine making Haut Corbin has been elevated to Grand Cru Classe Status and Le Jurat has been elevated to Grand Cru status. 

Just how good is the MILLS price?  The international Internet price watcher - 99 plus wines - says the best Worldwide price is $25.30.  Wait till they see that MILLS beats this price by over $5

Chateau du Mayne

Sauternes 2007

(375 ml)

Mills Shelf Price $19.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $17.99     6 Bottles or More  $15.99

Without question the very best Sauterne buy amongst the exceptional wines of Sauterne.  This estate, owned by Bernard Reglat is the equal to the more famous estates, but has yet to achieve the pricing.  Look at what Chateau Online has to say about the 2007.

"Delicious and ready to be enjoyed today.  It is remarkable for its delicate, elegant and well balanced qualities.  The strength of this great mellow wine is the balance between its richness and sweetness with the freshness of the structure.  This is one of the best values for the money opportunities from this appellation.  More importantly, it is a vintage which could become legendary"

Chateau Le Gay

Festival Rosé

Bordeaux Rosé 2009

Mills Shelf Price  $14.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $13.49     6 Bottles or More  $11.99

If you are even a casual Bordeaux drinker, you know that Chateau Le Gay in Pommerol is one of the appellations to 5 wines, with pricing in the $200 range per bottle. 

Le Gay's owner Catherine Pere Verge wanted some Bordeaux Rosé for herself so she asked her Le Gay winemaker to maker her some.  All her friends went nuts for it and it became a cult wine of ridiculous magnitude in Paris. 

Knowing that it would be impossible, Peter asked our Bordeaux broker if MILLS could buy 50 cases.  He laughed, but came back a day later and said he found 20 cases at a negociant in Bordeaux.  Needless to say, Peter grabbed it immediately without asking the price.  When we found out what the price was we nearly exploded in disbelief!

If you are a Rosé drinker, this is the ultimate.  Quite frankly if there are ten retailers in the USA with this wine we would be surprised.  We are told that we are the only retiler South of New York with any.

Chateau Barat

Bordeaux Rosé 2009

Mills Shelf Price  $11.99

Customer Appreciation Card Pricing

1-5 Bottles  $10.79     6 Bottles or More  $9.59

Just scroll up a few Chateaux to read the story of Chateau Barat.  To the best of our knowledge this is the only Rosé produced for export by the Lurton family. 

We find this to be a classic Bordeaux Rosé.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, with delightful upfront fruit and a crisp dry finish.  This is already our favorite quaffing Rosé for July thru September.  Unfortunately, we only have 20 cases to sell.